Baltimore County Councilman Tom Quirk to seek re-election

Memorial Day Ceremony at the Baltimore National Cemetery

Photo by Nate Pesce

First District Councilman Tom Quirk, shown speaking during the 26th annual Memorial Day ceremony at Baltimore National Cemetery, filed for re-election Tuesday with the Baltimore County Board of Elections.

First District Councilman Tom Quirk, shown speaking during the 26th annual Memorial Day ceremony at Baltimore National Cemetery, filed for re-election Tuesday with the Baltimore County Board of Elections. (Photo by Nate Pesce)

Lauren Loricchio, lloricchio@tribune.com

Councilman Tom Quirk, a Democrat who has represented the 1st District in the southwest portion of Baltimore County for the past three years, filed for re-election Tuesday with the Baltimore County Board of Elections.

"In the past three years, southwest Baltimore County has seen great progress in economic revitalization efforts, investment in our schools and efforts to protect our environment and improve our public safety," Quirk said in a press release. "I'm running for reelection to see that our district's positive momentum continues over the next four years."

The Democrat has served as chairman of the County Council's Spending Affordability Committee for the past three years and said he would like to continue serving in that capacity.

He owns a financial company, Retirement and Investment Group, that oversees more than $125 million in investments for 300 families in 15 states.

With that financial background, Quirk said he has been the council's go-to person for fiscal issues, he said.

He lives in Catonsville with his wife of 14 years, Siri Svaeren, and their two children Sofie, 7, who attends Hillcrest Elementary School, and Teddy, 13, who attends Catonsville Middle School.

While being a councilman can be time consuming, Quirk said he believes in setting aside time to spend with his family. He's used to putting in long hours at work, and now that his business is established, he enjoys spending his time improving the community where his family lives.

Quirk described serving as councilman as, "a very personal thing."

"I want to see the place where I live, my children go to school, and my friends are, do well," he said.

"I think the main reason I'm running is to keep up the momentum with the schools," Quirk said, referring to the recent funding for school renovation and construction to alleviate overcrowding in the 1st district.

Quirk said he also supports economic revitalization and that he's most proud of new development in the Lansdowne community.

"I have been honored to serve the residents of southwest Baltimore County for the past three years," Quirk said in a press release. "I'm confident that the progress we've made is only beginning."